Newcastle 0-1 Blackburn

Premiership photos

Paul Gallagher clinched victory for Blackburn as Newcastle were made to pay for sloppy defending at St James' Park.

Gallagher appeared to bundle in a Scott Emerton cross with his hand to claim a deserved win for Rovers.

Newcastle debutant Michael Chopra had an effort ruled out for offside as the home side failed to make an impression.

Blackburn's win was soured by an injury to Barry Ferguson who was stretchered from the field with a broken knee cap.

Ferguson will miss the rest of the season with the injury which was sustained when he was tackled by Gary Speed.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson handed a senior debut to 20-year-old striker Chopra as partner to top scorer Alan Shearer in attack.

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Rovers boss Graeme Souness rang the changes after seeing his side pick up one point from the last nine with Vratislav Gresko, Tugay, Alan Mahon and Andy Cole all recalled.

Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel was the first to be called upon on when Shearer laid off Nolberto Solano's pass to Jermaine Jenas and he cut inside before hitting a left-footed shot which the keeper did well to turn away.

Rovers looked threatening on the break, and Ferguson went just wide from a rehearsed free-kick on 18 minutes before Cole shot straight at Shay Given seconds later after beating the offside trap.

The Magpies had an escape on 20 minutes when Cole put pressure on Aaron Hughes and Olivier Bernard under a high ball, only a tug on the Frenchman's shirt halting his progress.

But United hit back when Shearer rose to power in a downward header from a Hughes cross which Friedel had to palm away.

Speed was caught in possession inside his own half in a clash with Barry Ferguson which left the Scot in agony, but Cole turned away from Titus Bramble to head into the box before Bernard got in a vital challenge.

Ferguson was stretchered off in some distress with what was later confirmed as a dislocated kneecap as Garry Flitcroft took his place.

KEY MOMENTS 27 mins: Ferguson stretchered from pitch 43 mins: Chopra "goal" ruled offside 72 mins: Gallagher bundles home Emerton cross

Rovers were working desperately hard without the ball to close down in midfield, but they almost handed their opponents the lead 10 minutes before half-time.

Gresko's mistake gifted Laurent Robert a chance to drill the ball across goal with Shearer and Chopra waiting to pounce, but Friedel threw out a hand to intercept before the ball was cleared.

Chopra thought he had claimed a first ever goal for the club when he tapped home another ball from the Peruvian a minute later only to be given offside.

Newcastle found themselves under increasing pressure early in the second half as Rovers began to threaten on the break.

The alarm bells were ringing when Andy O'Brien had to slide in to prevent Gallagher's cross from reaching Cole at the near post.

Cole twice went close for Blackburn before Gallagher broke the deadlock when he got on the end of Emerton's cross and possibly used his arm to force the ball into the net.

Blackburn almost snatched a second moments later when Cole's header was athletically cleared off the line by O'Brien.

A happy end to 2003 for Blackburn, but Newcastle have plenty to do if they are to reach a top-four finish come May.

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Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard, Solano (Ambrose 71), Jenas, Speed (Viana 81), Robert, Shearer, Chopra (LuaLua 71).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Woodgate.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Todd, Gresko, Emerton, Ferguson (Flitcroft 28), Tugay, Mahon, Gallagher (Jansen 90), Cole (Yorke 87).
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Martin Taylor.

Booked: Todd.

Attendance: 51,648.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).